Hi Tribe, 

We have exciting news to share about how career development is evolving at THU2026 in Troia. 

If you’ve been to the Main Event, you know it’s different every year. These changes come from listening to the Tribe, understanding what works, and adjusting towards the direction we want to follow to support the community. Sometimes these changes also come from things outside our power: our industry is unpredictable, and that brings growth and excitement, but also disruption and volatility. 

This year, instead of hosting recruitment in the usual structured application process with an interview at the Recruitment Center, we are leaning towards something more powerful: Industry Days (included in the Main Event Ticket), Pitch Days (a brand new event inside the Main Event), our network, and the energy of 6 days together where we’re in constant contact with each other.  So despite not having traditional recruitment sessions, the first two days of the event are still fully dedicated to your career. Make no mistake: career development is a big part of this edition, even more than in previous years. 

INDUSTRY DAYS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & ACTIVE LISTENING. 

Monday and Tuesday, the first two days of the event, are called “Industry Days”. This is where you can find new opportunities, ignite your indie studio’s journey, and peek behind the scenes of some of the biggest projects in the industry. Activities include portfolio reviews, Inside the Industry talks, and ice-breaking activities. 

To better understand how to support the Tribe during the current state of the industry, we invited Tribe Members @Ines Coimbraand@Filipe Teixeira to conduct the Think Tank Series and find insights from the THU community about their expectations for this edition of the event, categorizing the needs of juniors, mids, seniors, and business owners. For two months, in October and November 2025, they met with 15 Tribe members from a wide range of backgrounds, including freelancers and full-time professionals spanning several fields across the creative industry.

The insights from these sessions revealed that:

  • Self-confidence, career management, risk-taking, and navigating industry instability are common challenges faced by the Tribe. 
  • Mentorship, networking, hands-on projects, and continuous learning were identified as key growth areas. 
  • Leveraging past projects, sharing knowledge, and building social capital are crucial for mid-levels, seniors, and business owners. 
  • Key threats include AI disruption, market saturation, outsourcing, low investment in innovation, and instability in employment. 
  • Each level faces unique risks, from entry barriers and cost of living for juniors, to market pressures and strategic challenges for business owners. 
  • Participants emphasized financial literacy, emergency funds, upskilling, mentorship, and networking. 
  • Preferred learning formats include workshops, mentorship, online courses, and project-based experiences, with interest in both creative and business skills. 
  • The Tribe is ambitious, resilient, and growth-oriented but faces a complex, evolving industry. By supporting skill development, networking, mentorship, and practical learning, THU can empower creatives to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve long-term career success, ultimately playing a key role in shaping the industry of tomorrow.

When asked whether they had ever conceived a creative project with potential business value, every participant responded affirmatively. This 100% “Yes” response underscores the entrepreneurial spirit that runs strongly throughout our Tribe, where each individual has, at some point, envisioned a project that could translate their creativity into a viable business opportunity. 

However, while the initial ideation stage is universal, the translation of these ideas into tangible outcomes is less common. Of the 15 participants, only 3 are actively pursuing their creative ideas as real-world ventures. 

With this in mind, we immediately knew we had to find a way and design a track for the event that could provide guidance, resources, and support the Tribe in their independent business journey. From this idea, Pitch Days was born. 

INTRODUCING PITCH DAYS

Pitch days (September 28 and 29) is a space to learn how to build a business around the work you make, from pitching to business plans and the investment ecosystem. 

It runs as a separate event with its own ticket. This means that: 

  • If you don’t want to attend the Main Event: you can just get a ticket for Pitch Days, which also gives you access to the Oasis for the whole duration of the event. 
  • If you want to attend the Main Event: you get a discount when getting a Pitch Days ticket. 

We are limiting access to 100 participants to ensure closer connections and direct access to mentors.

The academy is the core of this special event: an intensive educational track designed to bridge the gap between a creative idea and a business, with hands-on workshops on business plans, investment psychology, and the art of the pitch. It runs both days, and it's open to anyone with a Pitch Days ticket; no project needed.

If you have a project ready for the world, you can apply for the opportunity to take the stage and present to investors, but keep in mind that only selected projects unlock the Pitch Sessions. 


To find out more about Pitch Days, go here. And don’t forget to secure your spot for the Main Event, from September 28 to October 3.

We’re still offering the option to split into installments at no extra cost!